Methods of treatment of psychosis in mammals with substituted methylenedioxybenzamides



United States Patent 3,495,007 METHODS OF TREATMENT OF PSYCHOSIS IN MAMMALS WITH SUBSTITUTED METHYL- ENEDIOXYBENZAMIDES Michel Leon Thominet, Paris, France, and Edward L. Engelhardt, Gwynedd, Pa., assignors to Societe dEtudes Scientifiques et Industrielles de lIle-de-France, Longjumeau, Essonne, France, a corporation of France No Drawing. Original applications June 3, 1965, Ser. No. 461,167, now Patent No. 3,370,066, dated Feb. 20, 1968, and Nov. 22, 1967, Ser. No. 684,957, now Patent No. 3,423,512, dated Jan. 21, 1969. Divided and this application Sept. 19, 1968, Ser. No. 760,974 Claims priority, application France, June 9, 1964, 977,661, 977,663 Int. Cl. A611: 27/00 US. Cl. 424-282 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Mammals afilicted with psychosis are administered parenterally or orally a substituted methylenedioxybenzamide. Such administration eflFects significant changes in the central nervous system of the treated mammal whereby disorders of the nervous system and psychotic disorders are significantly diminished.

This application is a division of the copending application, S.N. 461,167, filed June 3, 1965, now US. Patent No. 3,370,066, issued Feb. 20, 1968 and the copending application, S.N. 684,957, filed Nov. 22, 1967, now U.S. Patent No. 3,423,512, issued Jan. 21, 1969.

This invention relates to methylenedioxybenzamides, processes for their production and methods of their uses.

The substituted methylenedioxybenzamides utilized in this invention have the formula:

CONVWX 0 a CH O in which the methylenedioxy group is in the 3-4, 45 or 5-6 position; A is hydrogen, lower alkyl of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, such as methyl, isopropyl or isobutyl or lower alkenyl such as CH=CH or CH CH=CH V is hydrogen, lower alkyl of '1 to 5 carbon atoms such as methyl, isopropyl or isobutyl, aryl, such as phenyl and substituted aryl, such as methyl phenyl; W is lower alkylene of 2 to 4 carbon atoms, such as:

3,495,007 Patented Feb. 10, 1970 Chem. Soc. 1961, 83, 1010). The resulting product is reacted with a diamine having the formula:

to produce the desired substituted methylenedioxybenzamide. The sequence of reactions is represented as follows when X of the diamine is an N-di lower alkylamine:

C2115 CH3 HNVWN COO-C CH2O The composition of the invention possess significant pharmacological properties and can be utilized in the treatment of emesis, pain, disorders of the nervous system and psychotic disorders.

The invention includes the utilization of the salts of the basic amides described above and the pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts of such basic amides.

The acid salts of the substituted methylenedioxybenzamides are produced by causing the benzamide base to react with an acid, such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, hydroidoic acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, citric acid, tartaric acid and lactic acid. Ethane sulfonic acid or acids, such as diphenylacetic acid, produce salts substantially insoluble in water and permit a slow absorption of the composition when administered, thereby effecting prolonged action of the composition.

The quaternary ammonium derivatives are obtained by reacting the substituted benzamide base with an aliphatic or aromatic agent, such as methyl chloride, methyl bromide, methyl iodide, dimethyl sulfate, methyl benzene sulfonate, methyl p-toluene sulfonate, ethyl bromide, propyl bromide and benzyl chloride.

The substituted methylenedioxybenzamides of this invention possess significant pharmacological properties and may be used, incorporated in or combined with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers.

A more comprehensive understanding of this invention is obtained by reference to the following examples of compounds utilized in the practice of the methods of this invention.

EXAMPLE I N-(2-diethylaminoethyl)-2-methoxy- 3,4-methylenedioxybenzamide 37.9 g. (0.193 mol) of 2-methoXy-3,4-methylenedioxybenzoic acid and 19.5 g. (0.193 mol) of triethylamine are dissolved in 400 ml. of anhydrous acetonitrile. This solution is added to a suspension of 49 g. (0.193 mol) of 3sulfonate of N-ethyl-S-phenylisoxazolium in 600 ml. of anhydrous acetonitrile cooled to 0 C., then stirred 45 minutes at ordinary temperature. The reaction mixture is cooled at 0 C. and 45 g. (0.386 mol) of N,N-diethylethylene diamine are added under agitation. The solid dissolves slowly is agitated for four hours at ordinary temperature and allowed to stand overnight.

The solution obtained is then concentrated to a low volume under vacuum. Water, benzene and 20 ml. of a 10 N solution of sodium hydroxide are added. The benzene layer is separated, washed with water, dried with sodium sulfate and the benzene distilled under vacuum. The residual oil obtained weighs 54.1 g. and is composed of N (2-diethylaminoethyl) 2-methoxy-3,4-methylenedioxybenzamide. The base is dissolved in absolute alcohol and the solution is treated with 10% excess gaseous HCl dissolved in absolute alcohol. The warm solution is diluted with ether until the crystallization of the product is obtained. The hydrochloride is filtered and washed on the filter with ether. The yield is 46.2 g. having a melting point of 164-165 C. This yield is 73% of the theoretical. Analysis of the product having the empirical formula of C H N O -HCl shows the following. Calculated: C, 54.46%; H, 7.01%; N, 8.47%. Found: C, 54.52%; H, 6.90%; N, 8.41%.

EXAMPLE II N-(Z-diethylaminoethyl)-2-methoxy- 4,5-methylenedioxybenzamide 39.2 g. (0.2 mol) of 2-methoxy-4,S-methylenedioxybenzoic acid are dissolved in a mixture of 200 ml. of anhydrous acetonitrile and 20.5 g. (0.2 mol) of triethylamine. This solution is added, under agitation, to a sOlution of 50.5 g. (0.2 mol) of 3'-sulfonate of N-ethyl-S- phenylisoxazolium in 400 ml. of anhydrous acetonitrile.

The mixture is cooled in an ice bath, is agitated for one hour, then for two hours at ordinary temperature. To the solution cooled at C., there is added, under agitation, 46 g. (0.4 mol) of N,N-diethylethylene diamine. After remaining overnight at ordinary temperature, the solution obtained is concentrated under vacuum to a low volume. Benzene, water and 20 ml. of a N solution of sodium hydroxide are added. The benzene layer is separated, washed with water and dried with sodium sulfate. The benzene is removed under vacuum. The pale yellow residual oil weighs 50 g. It is dissolved in absolute alcohol and treated with excess gaseous HCl dissolved in alcohol. The warm solution obtained is diluted with ether. The N-(Z-diethylaminoethyl)-2-methoxy-4,5- methylenedioxybenzamide hydrochloride formed precipitates. It is dried and washed on a filter with ether. The yield is 35.5 g. of the hydrochloride having a melting point of 213-215 C. and is 63% of the theoretical. Analysis of hydrochloride having the empirical formula of C H N O -HCl shows the following. Calculated: C, 54.46%; H, 7.01%; N, 8.47. Found: C, 54.44%; H, 6.90%; N, 8.62%.

Desirably, the substituted benzamides, such as those described in Examples I and II are associated with solid or liquid pharmaceutically acceptable carriers for oral or parenteral administration in the treatment of nervous system disorders and psychotic disorders. The substituted benzamides and carriers may be in the form of capsules, tablets, powders, sterile solutions of water or other solvents or other dosage forms. The substituted benzamides may be admixed with diluents and adjuvants, such as lactose, gums, stearic acid or talc.

The study of the actions of these compositions on the central nervous system was made and the following results for dilferent tests were given:

N (2 DIETHYLAMINOETHYL) 2 -METHOXY 3,4 METHYLENEDIOXYBENZAMIDE (a) Test of Kinnard and Carr in the mouse, (spontaneous motility).D.E. 50 (base)=10.6 mg./kg. I.P.

(b) Experimental catalepsy in the rat.At 50 mg./ kg. subcutaneously, a cataleptic efiect is obtained.

(c) Test of rotared in the mouse. D-E. 50 (base).=79.3 mg./kg. LP.

(d) Tremorine test in the mouse. DE. 50 (base)=37.4 mg./kg. I.P.

(e) Traction test in the mouse.

DE. 50 (base)=45.8 mg./kg. S.C. (after 15 minutes).

(f) Mescaline test in the mouse.

DE. 50 (base)=23.8 mg./kg. I.P.

(g) Anti-convulsant activity in the mouse.With dosage of 50 mg./kg. I.P.: no protection relative to the pentylenetetrazol convulsions with regard to lethality, the tonic convulsion or the clonic convulsion.

N (2 DIETHYLAMINOETHYL) 2 -METHOXY- 4,5 METHYLENEDIOXYBENZAMIDE (a) Test of Kinnard and Car in the mouse (spontaneous motility.D.E. 50 (base):11.6 mg./kg. I.P.

(b) Experimental catalepsy in the rat.With 50 mg./ kg. subcutaneously, a 20% cataleptic effect is obtained.

(c) Tremorine test in the mouse.-

D.E. 50 (base)=l.9 mg./kg. LP.

((1) Mescaline test in the mouse.

DE. 50 (base)=7.6 mg./kg. LP.

(e) Traction test in the mouse.Negative. (f) Test of rotared in the mouse.

DE. 50 (base)=37.4 mg./kg. I.P.

(g) Anti-convulsant activity in the mouse.At dosage of rug/kg. I.P.: no protection relative to pentylenetetrazol convulsions with regard to lethality, the tonic convulsion or the clonic convulsion.

The compositions may be administered in the form of pharmacologically acceptable salt, in the form of tablets, injectable ampoules, suppositories, saccharine, granules, or syrup.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of treating a mammal afflicted with psychosis comprising administering to said mammal an effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of free bases, nontoxic salts and quaternary ammonium derivatives thereof; said free bases having the formula:

in which the methylenedioxy radical is in a position selected trom the group consisting of the 3-4, 45 and 5-6 positions; A is a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl and lower alkenyl; V is a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, phenyl and methylphenyl; W is lower alkylene; and X is selected from the group consisting of N-di lower alkylamino and 5 and 6 membered heterocyclic nitrogenous nuclei with a nitrogen atom thereof connected to a carbon atom of W, wherein said nuclei is morpholino, piperidino, pyrrolidino, piperazino N-alkylpiperazino or imidazolo.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, in which the compound administered is N(2-diethylaminoethyl)- 2-methoxy-3,4-methylenedioxybenzamide.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, in which the compound administered is N-(2-diethylaminoethyl)- 2-methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxybenzamide.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,362,128 11/1944 Gertler et a1. 260340.5 2,251,287 8/1-941 Lott 260340.5

ALBERT T. MEYERS, Primary Examiner S. I. FRIEDMAN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,495, 007 February 10 1970 Michel Leon Thominet et a1.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, lines 22 to 29, the right-hand portion of the formula reading "CH CONHC H" should read CH CONHC H line 31, "composition" should read compositions Signed and sealed this 24th day of November 1970.

( A Attest:

EdwariM. Fletcher, I r.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. 

